Government employees to contribute one month salary to CMDRF

Thiruvananthapuram, April 22: Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today announced that all elected representatives in the State – Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, members of different Boards under the Government and members of Local Self Government bodies would take a 30% cut in their monthly salary and honorarium for a period of one year.

“Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the economic sector at the national and state level as well but we are not going back on welfare schemes. Kerala has been hit badly and we are a consumer state. The State is going through a fiscal crisis as the tax collection revenue has fallen drastically and remittances from expatriates have also stopped since the outbreak of Coronavirus. Expenses for healthcare services and food safety are unavoidable. In this scenario, we need to mop up additional resources within the State. It’s a matter of relief that people across all sections of our society have contributed to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF)”, said the Chief Minister.

The CM also informed that government employees and their associated organisations have expressed their willingness to contribute one month’s salary to CMDRF. The Cabinet meeting held today decided that a part of the salary of all government employees would be kept apart for this. Accordingly, the salary for six days every month would be deducted for the next five months. This would be applicable to employees of all State-owned Enterprises, Public Sector Undertakings, Quasi-Government organisations, Universities, etc in the State. However, those earning less than Rs. 20,000 a month would be exempted.